What Science Says About 'Signs' You're Pregnant With a Boy

During pregnancy, some parents enjoy guessing the biological sex of their soon-to-be baby. Maybe you've wondered what your future family might look like even before those two lines popped up on your pregnancy test, and you're monitoring every symptom hoping to get a hint.

If you're hanging out with an older relative, they might ask you questions about "signs" you're having a boy or girl: Are you carrying low or high? Is baby's heart rate around 140 beats per minute? Are you super nauseous?

That's because, over the years, plenty of old wives' tales have been passed down claiming to point to one biological sex or the other. But is there any truth to any of them? The bottom line, according to experts: Not really.

But even though most boy pregnancy symptom myths have been debunked, they're still fun for parents-to-be. Plus, some of them will hold true for you—after all, there's a 50% chance, right? We broke down some common gender-predicting old wives' tales below, and we also rounded up scientifically proven signs you're having a boy.

Old Wives' Tales for Predicting a Boy Baby

You're carrying low

According to one old wives' tale, if you're carrying the baby low, even before the much-anticipated "dropping" that occurs late in the third trimester before going into labor, it's a sign you're pregnant with a boy.

The truth: Carrying low can help you avoid some of that pregnancy indigestion, according to Kameelah Phillips, MD, IBCLC, an OB-GYN at Calla Women's Health in New York. However, it doesn't necessarily mean your baby will be assigned male. "It really depends on the position of the baby and the number of babies you've had that primarily impacts the appearance of the abdomen and uterus," she says.

You're only gaining weight around your belly

Can people tell you're pregnant from behind? If not, old wives' tales say you may be pregnant with a boy. So goes this myth, which states if you're "all belly," there's a good chance you'll welcome a boy, but if you're carrying the excess weight in your hips, waist, and rear, you may be having a girl.

The truth: Again, there's not really merit to this myth, says Dr. Phillips. "This is mostly related to the pregnant person's size and shape, rather than a particular gender."

Your partner isn't gaining weight

On your own when it comes to this whole weight gain thing? This old wives' tale says you're having a boy if your partner has maintained their weight even when the scale tips upward for you as the weeks progress.

The truth: This one doesn't hold particularly true, either. "While dad weight is definitely a thing" (if your partner happens to be male) "it doesn't point to a particular sex, says Dr. Phillips. " Indeed, pregnancy symptoms in a non-pregnant partner is called Couvade syndrome, and it can present as morning sickness, nausea, weight gain, and more. Couvade syndrome can appear whether you're expecting a boy or girl.

Your skin is clear and glowing

Is your skin glowing, or has your pregnancy been riddled with acne that could rival your teen years? The old (rather terrible!) saying goes, "girls steal your beauty." So if you've truly got that pregnant glow, this wives' tale errs on the side of a baby boy.

The truth: Dr. Phillips says there may be just a hint of truth to experiencing a pregnancy glow, but it doesn't mean you should expect one sex over the other. "Often, glowing skin is associated with a baby boy, but is more likely related to an increase in blood flow and volume," which happens in every pregnancy, she says.

Your morning sickness isn't that bad

Those early weeks of pregnancy can be tough, regardless of whether you experience morning sickness or not. Some amount of queasiness is normal for every pregnant person, but if your morning sickness is totally manageable, this myth says it's a symptom of having a boy.

The truth: Some research has shown that female fetuses are associated with a greater amounts of nausea and vomiting during the first trimester—but there's been opposing studies as well. In truth, at least 70% of pregnant people experience morning sickness to some degree, regardless of their baby's biological sex.

Your urine is a dull yellow

This old wives' tale calls for checking the color of your urine to get a clue about your baby's sex. Bright yellow? You could be carrying a girl, while a duller hue indicates a sign you're having a boy.

The truth: Dr. Phillips flatly disagrees with this assessment: "Urine color, smell, and volume varies throughout the day and with hydration and diet," she says. "As such, there is no relation between urine and the sex of your baby. It's likely related to factors like fluid intake, presence of infection, and vitamin usage."

Your feet are always cold

Got cold feet? No, not about being pregnant (though that's perfectly normal!). If you find that your feet are always cold now that you're expecting, one old wives' tale holds that it's a sign you're having a boy.

The truth: Temperature changes are most likely due to normal hormonal fluctuations, says Dr. Phillips. "People complain about being both overly hot and cold at any point during the pregnancy, so it's not a reliable determination of the baby's sex."

You're craving salty and savory foods

If you have a hankering for potato chips and pretzels while pregnant, the old wives' tale says you're expecting a boy. On the other hand, cravings for sweets (like chocolate or candy) indicate that a girl is in your belly.

The truth: There hasn't been any research linking pregnancy food cravings to biological sex. In fact, experts don't know exactly what causes these cravings, but they may be linked to hormonal changes.

Your baby's heart rate is low

You'll probably hear that amazing beating sound sometime around 8 to 10 weeks at one of your first prenatal appointments. And many people believe this treasured experience can also be one of your first possible clues into your baby's sex: male fetuses supposedly have a heart rate that's 140 beats per minute or slower, while female fetuses' hearts beat a bit faster, at 140 beats per minute or higher.

The truth: Studies have proven this to be untrue.

Your hands are dry

Myth has it that dry hands are a sign you're pregnant with a boy. If your hands feel soft and moisturized, you can expect a baby assigned female at birth.

The truth: Dry skin is common during pregnancy, and it doesn't indicate whether you're having a boy or girl.

Scientifically Proven Signs You're Having a Boy

We know, we know, you're dying to find out the sex of your baby. It seems like the wait takes forever! Old wives' tales aside, there are a few science-approved ways you can find out whether you'll welcome a baby that's assigned male or female, starting with the following tests.

Noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT)

First up is noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT), an optional genetic screening test you'll be offered after week 10 of your pregnancy. Your baby's sex will be included in the blood report that comes back from your doctor, so be sure to let them know if you don't want to know.

Nuchal translucency (NT) scan

If you opt out of genetic screening, your next opportunity to learn the sex of your unborn baby is the nuchal translucency (NT) scan, which typically happens in weeks 11-13 of pregnancy. This is a thorough ultrasound that screens for different markers of Down syndrome, trisomy 13, trisomy 18, and other chromosomal abnormalities. While 12 weeks is a bit early to determine sex, the tech may rarely get a clear shot.

Mid-pregnancy ultrasound

If you're still guessing after these tests, or you've opted to skip the NIPT, you'll have to wait until your mid-pregnancy ultrasound (also known as the anatomy scan) to learn the baby's sex. Around weeks 18 to 22 of your pregnancy, you'll finally get your much-anticipated mid-pregnancy ultrasound, where you'll get an intimate view of every inch of your growing bundle of joy. In most cases, you should be able to find out your baby's sex if you don't want to keep it a surprise.

Studies indicate that ultrasounds are nearly 100% accurate at predicting sex after 14 weeks. The accuracy will increase with gestational age, according to Bart Putterman, MD, an OB-GYN at Texas Children's Pavilion for Women in Houston.

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis

In some pregnancies, people opt for chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis to screen for chromosomal or genetic abnormalities. CVS takes place between weeks 10 and 13 of pregnancy, while amniocentesis happens between 15 and 20 weeks. . As a side effect of these tests, parents might learn the sex of their little one.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) genetic screening

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a fertility treatment that involves mixing sperm and egg in a petri dish, then inserting the fertilized embryo into a uterus. This procedure often involves preimplantation genetic screening to choose the healthiest embryo, and parents can usually learn the sex of these embryos.